Why Gary Cahill has been Chelsea’s standout performer this season

Monday night saw Cesar Azpilicueta pick up Chelsea’s Players’ Player of the season whilst Eden Hazard received Chelsea’s Player of the Year award. Whilst both these players deserved their accolades respectively, the performances of their teammate Gary Cahill must not be undermined as a result.

The England international has been a rock in Chelsea’s back four this season and an integral part of Jose Mourinho’s defensive unit that only conceded 27 goals in the Premier League. Although Chelsea have been criticised for their negative approaches to games this season and their routine ‘park the bus’ tactics, it has truly been an honour and pleasure to watch some of Cahill’s defensive performances.

Alongside some of his excellent displays, Cahill is a player that without a doubt puts in 100 per cent every game. He goes into games ready to fight for the blue shirt no matter what the occasion.

The passion he shows is also admirable for someone that hasn’t been at the club for many years. His goals against Southampton and Galatasaray, whilst his reaction after Chelsea’s title defeat to Crystal Palace are a few examples of how this man feels when he’s playing for his club.

Gary Cahill, a footballer that plays for the badge every single game. An animated character on the pitch both when his team wins and loses

The partnership that he has struck up with Chelsea skipper John Terry has been pivotal for the team and whilst the Blues legend has just signed a one-year contract, the day the 33-year-old decides to retire, Cahill will be the best possible candidate to take the armband along with what he’s already learned from the former England captain.

Cahill is consulted by Jose Mourinho after their shock defeat to Crystal Palace (Picture:Getty Images)

Cahill has been brilliant and most importantly consistent. Something that hasn’t gone unnoticed with the 28-year-old being voted into PFA Team of the Year alongside Chelsea teammates Eden Hazard and Petr Cech.

Since his move to Chelsea back in January 2011, he has come up against some of the best strikers domestically and on the European stage, including Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in recent months.

But his most notable performance in a Chelsea shirt came against Bayern Munich in the Blues Champions League triumph, where he had an in-form Mario Gomez in his back pocket the whole game.

Being involved in so much big games in recent years, whilst also being Terry’s partner in the centre of defence at club level has only helped Cahill become a better player.

Cahill will be a gem in Roy Hodgson’s plans for the World Cup. And should the defender carry the form and consistency he has shown all season to Brazil, which I expect him to do so, England’s failure or success won’t come down to how much goals were conceded but rather what’s happening on in the attacking part of the pitch.